Winners For 2016 July Sprint Day

The July Sprint meeting will be held at Canterbury this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Heavy 9 on Thursday and with clearing weather in Sydney leading up to the weekend, together with the recuperating power of the Canterbury race track, the meeting is likely to be held on a Soft 6/7 track.

The Waterhouse-trained 2YO Thronum has been unbeaten winning both career starts and is the horse to beat once again in the opening event at Canterbury (Sydney Race 1, 1200m). This Snitzel colt won brilliantly leading from start to finish over this trip at Randwick a fortnight ago on a Heavy 9 track, blitzing the field by 3 lengths. From barrier 2, Tommy Berry will take Thronum straight to the lead and try to run them ragged.

Top weight Pioneering is the class horse in the field and he can make it back-to-back victory in the Schweppes Handicap (Sydney Race 3, 1250m). The 3YO filly has been racing very consistently with 4 placings in her last 5 starts and she was back in the winner’s stall after dropping back to 1200m last start. The 1250m on Saturday looks ideal and the anticipated Soft track should not worry her. Down in class and even though she’s up in the weight, Chris Waller decides not to claim on her and that shows his confidence on the filly. With Hugh Bowman on board, Pioneering certainly looks the testing material.

The Waller-trained McCreery looks to have conditions to suit in the Theraces Handicap (Sydney Race 5, 1550m). His 1st up run over 1200m was a bit short and he couldn’t muster speed in the straight on the Heavy 10 track. Stepping up to 1550m 2nd up will suit and so will the Soft track. Under 60kg, Brenton Avdulla would like to give McCreery a cosy run in transit before he unleashes his finishing run rounding the home turn. And barrier 3 would allow Avdulla to settle somewhere mid-field with plenty of cover. Watch him run home strongly in the straight.

The Clarry Conners-trained Decision Time may be an outsider in the July Sprint but he is certainly a winning chance in the open handicap (Sydney Race 7, 1100m). The 8YO veteran has finally worked himself back in-form with a good 2nd last start in the Winterdash. With a 4 week break between runs, he should sprint well fresh over 1100m, and the anticipated Soft track will hold no fear. Taylor Marshall will once again be on board and with his 2kg claim, Decision Time will only be carrying 57.5kg and that would give him a winning chance. Currently at $11.00 in the fixed odds market, Decision Time represents a good value bet.

By Owens Wong, Editor

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